Collision course: Tar Heels put top ranking on line vs. hot Wolfpack

RALEIGH — For 15 games in a row, the North Carolina State baseball team has come out on the winning side.

Yet the Wolfpack will look up tonight and see the country’s No. 1 team arriving at Doak Field. It’s North Carolina, which has won 15 of its last 16 games.

The start of a three-game series between these Atlantic Coast Conference rivals might never be bigger — and that’s saying quite a bit.

“They’re our rivals,” N.C. State shortstop Trea Turner said. “Regardless if they’re (No.) 1 or 100, we’re going to play them like it’s the World Series.”

It figures to be three games that could involve high drama. North Carolina (40-3) has been the kingpin in the region for most of the decade and this gives the Wolfpack (33-10) a chance to make significant inroads.

“I think we’ve already made a statement,” N.C. State coach Elliott Avent said. “We’ve made a statement all year long. I don’t think one weekend defines you either way.”

This one will be well scrutinized. The series is sold out, with Sunday night’s finale to be televised by ESPNU.

“I wanted to play in front of an atmosphere like we’re going to get here,” said pitcher Ryan Wilkins, a right-hander who’s pegged to be on the mound tonight. “I’ve got to make sure I enjoy it. It’s going to be an awesome weekend.”

That’s the same sentiment coming from the Tar Heels, too. Of course, they have the task of trying to divvy up less than 100 tickets provided to the visiting side.

“As a college baseball player, you live for these moments,” said North Carolina catcher Matt Roberts, a junior from Graham. “It’s definitely going to be an exciting series.”

The Wolfpack is craving for a special season and one is in the works after a rather uneven opening stretch. Now, it’s the on the cusp, with an ideal opportunity to prove itself against the Tar Heels.

“If you ask me, things look pretty even,” Wilkins said. “We’d rather them win (before North Carolina’s loss this week to UNC Wilmington) and we both go in with a (winning streak).”

Until Tuesday night’s loss for the Tar Heels, the teams had the two longest winning streaks in the country.

So the natural question has been:

“When do they collide,” North Carolina first baseman Cody Stubbs said, “and that would be this weekend.”

Wilkins moved to the front of the weekend rotation last week, shifting All-American Carlos Rodon to the Saturday slot. Brad Stone holds Sunday’s assignment for the Wolfpack. Avent said the Wolfpack played as well as it has all season at Georgia Tech, so he’s keeping that set-up.

North Carolina will go with Kent Emanuel, an ace left-hander, tonight followed by Benton Moss and Hobbs Johnson. Roberts said the outcomes could come down to how the bullpens fare from each team.

The build-up to the series has been nothing short of unusual for college baseball.

“It’s going to be crazy,” Wolfpack third baseman Grant Clyde said.

Stubbs said: “It will be a lot of red, kind of like the ACC Tournament last year. I know we’ll have to play our best to beat them.”

N.C. State’s winning streak has been defined by the Wolfpack’s ability to hold steady during some rough stretches and convert in the clutch.

“Then you find a way to win some games and through that you get some toughness and then through that you gain some confidence,” Avent said.

Clyde said: “Belief. It seems like as long as we’ve got an out left, we’ve got a chance. Hey, we’re tough. You can’t relax on us until you have that 27th out. I think it’s an attitude.”

The Wolfpack had high aspirations after reaching the NCAA super regionals a year ago. The high stakes of a regular-season showdown are part of the process.

North Carolina won a dramatic ACC Tournament game against N.C. State last May in Greensboro.

“We want to play our best and we owe them a little,” said N.C. State first baseman Tarran Senay, who’s the reigning ACC Player of the Week.

North Carolina coach Mike Fox said he knows his team will be pumped up by the time it makes the short commute.

“They’ll be excited about it by the time we get over there,” Fox said. “We’ll have to be on our best game or we’ll get it handed to us. … I’m glad college baseball is getting attention.”

When asked about the impact of having such a big game on the docket, Avent barely knew where to start.

“Which one of them?” he asked, then provided an answer. “All three. ... It’s a great thing for college baseball.”

â–ª EXTRA BASES Â…: North Carolina is the countryÂ’s first Division I team to reach 40 victories this season. Â… If N.C. State wins tonight, it will match the 16-game winning streak for Wolfpack in 2003. Â… Roberts is 0-5 all-time at Doak Field, with Graham losing twice in the Class 2-A state championship series in 2010 and the Tar Heels a three-game sweep victim in 2011. He said he has played in other events there, but those were the only games that really mattered.

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